The two special legislative sessions so far have cost the state at least $430,000, with costs still being tallied.
Jessica Geary is finance manager for the Legislative Affairs Agency.
She says past special sessions have typically cost around $30,000 a day. But she said this year has been different. The first special session was marked by an 11-day recess in floor sessions that sent lawmakers scattering from Juneau, the session’s location. She says legislators weren’t meeting every day and many weren’t claiming a daily allowance, known as per diem, unless they were on a committee that was meeting.
She also says it’s unprecedented to have a special session in Anchorage that lasts longer than a day.
